Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

AIBU to raise this with the school? Email related!

48 replies

rosybell · 06/09/2019 16:04

This is a minor niggle, but I genuinely want to know if IABU. My kids primary school uses an email system to send mass emails to all parents (same as most schools I imagine)

Yesterday one came through and it was regarding private tuition available and included a flyer advert attached for a local tutor.

My issues with this were that it gives an impression that the school is recommending private tuition for its pupils (school learning not enough?), but mainly I felt it sends a message that tuition is the 'norm' and could well make parents who cant afford it concerned that their child is disadvantaged.

Whilst I personally would not pay for private tuition for my primary aged kids, it is of course up to parents. But I dont think it was appropriate for the school to advertise this service to all parents.

I sent an email raising this and was advised that the school didnt promote tuition, but it was simply giving information to parents.

AIBU to think this is not an appropriate use of e-mail by the school?

OP posts:

Juells · 06/09/2019 16:51

I'd be asking if the tuition company paid school for access to parental email addresses

Wasn't the flyer attached by the school though, not the tutor?

WorraLiberty · 06/09/2019 16:55

but mainly I felt it sends a message that tuition is the 'norm' and could well make parents who cant afford it concerned that their child is disadvantaged.

Why did you feel that? It's a bit condescending to be honest.

I'm pretty sure most adult parents will just see it as an advert.

arethereanyleftatall · 06/09/2019 16:58

You could just look on the bright side for this. Money raised for the school? tick, great. Interested? Tick, great. Not interested? Delete.

ArgumentativeAardvaark · 06/09/2019 17:02

Have you signed anything that gives them general consent to use your email address to distribute third party advertising? Do they send other stuff like music classes or sports clubs? Stepping away from what advertising a tutor says about the education provided by the school (with which I agree with you), it’s basically just an ad. How would you feel if you were getting info about plumbers, estate agents, car dealerships, wine clubs etc? Can the school explain the difference?

Confusedasnormal · 06/09/2019 17:03

If the school didn’t collect your opt-in consent to provide you with marketing information this probably falls foul of GDPR legislation.

I can’t see how they could spin advertising a 3rd party service as part of their administration of their responsibilities.

Also all local authority schools have access to Information managers through the LA who can give advice on this kind of thing. If they are an academy and trying to monetise education I have no sympathy for them getting it wrong.

Soontobe60 · 06/09/2019 17:03

School should not be doing this, it flies in the face of safeguarding!

ArgumentativeAardvaark · 06/09/2019 17:05

GDPR, yes, but safeguarding? How so @Soontobe60?

TheRebelAlliance · 06/09/2019 17:06

School should not be doing this, it flies in the face of safeguarding!

Would you like to explain in what way it flies in the face of safeguarding?

They are paid. Many schools do it ,

Shalom23 · 06/09/2019 17:07

Seriously? Do you realize how inundated schools are with real issues around learning and students . You want to waste precious time of some teacher complaining about this. As an experienced very successful teacher of two decades, believe me when I say that if you do this, you risk NEVER being taken seriously at the school.

TheRebelAlliance · 06/09/2019 17:07

GDPR, yes

How is GDPR relevant?

Shalom23 · 06/09/2019 17:10

The companies do not pay the school. They are merely passing on I formation that some parents may avail of.

cansu · 06/09/2019 17:10

The school are simply passing on an advert for a tutor. You are free to bin it or not. It isn't really any different to the info you get about summer holiday clubs and tennis days or any other advertising of local services that might conceivably be of interest to parents.

WorraLiberty · 06/09/2019 17:12

Actually (for once!) GDPR is relevant here unless the OP has opted in to advertising.

The advert was sent by the school (so her info wasn't given to a 3rd party) but they have to use the stored data (in this case OP's email address) for the purpose in which it was given.

TheRebelAlliance · 06/09/2019 17:13

The companies do not pay the school. They are merely passing on I formation that some parents may avail of.

I can assure you that they do.

pinksquash13 · 06/09/2019 17:14

I would also say in my experience, companies do not pay the school. There will probably be 20+ parents a year who ask for recommendations for tutors so clearly it's a relevant service. There will always be children who are behind in reading etc. What's the problem?

TheRebelAlliance · 06/09/2019 17:15

but they have to use the stored data (in this case OP's email address) for the purpose in which it was given.

However they could also have asked all parents if they agree to such mailings and only be sending to those that do.

tinyvulture · 06/09/2019 17:15

I think it’s fine, personally, tho I do see what you mean about the possible interpretation that the school’s teaching isn’t good enough. But, to be honest, I’ve been a head of English in various different types of school, and frequently been asked to recommend tutors, not because the school wasn’t good enough, but because some kids do benefit from some 1-1 to help with certain issues, and with the best will in the world schools can’t afford to supply infinite support of this nature. Some parents are good at supporting their kids in this way, but some don’t feel able to. I guess sending this out just means individual teachers aren’t having to field multiple requests of this nature - it’s a convenience thing.

ArgumentativeAardvaark · 06/09/2019 17:17

Thanks Worra. Exactly- the point of GDPR is to make sure that when an entity such as a school holds your data (ie your email address, the area you live and the fact that you have school-age children) it only uses tat data for the purpose for which it was given. So in your case it was given to allow the school to communicate with parents about school matters such as term dates, the PTA, school trips etc etc. You may well have at some point ticked a box that said “from time to time we may contact you with third party advertising, please tick to say you consent” in which case what they have done is fine, GDPR-wise. But if you did not give such consent then they are going beyond using your data for the limited purpose for which it was given.

Hope that answers your question @TheRebelAlliance.

Topseyt · 06/09/2019 17:18

I couldn't see this as anything to get at all worked up about. If you don't like it and don't want it then just delete it. No need to waste everyone's time contacting school at all.

Some parents might be considering a tutor for their child. They might like to see the advert.

The only possible issue I can see is whether or not the tutor in the advert is DBS checked. Parents who employ them should also check that though.

ArgumentativeAardvaark · 06/09/2019 17:19

@TheRebelAlliance every post referring to GDPR has cabeatwd it with reference to/a question to the OP about a possible opt-in. Why now mention it as if nobody had done so before, and after disingenuously claiming you did not know why GDPR was applicable here?

ArgumentativeAardvaark · 06/09/2019 17:19

*caveated

WorraLiberty · 06/09/2019 17:19

However they could also have asked all parents if they agree to such mailings and only be sending to those that do.

Yes, you cut the bit out of the quote where I said "Actually (for once!) GDPR is relevant here unless the OP has opted in to advertising."

CheesyMother · 06/09/2019 18:33

This reminds me of the story in the press today about UCAS emailing students about commercial loans.

I think you were right to mention it to the school!

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread